environment

1[countable,uncountable]the conditions that affect the behavior and development of someone or something; the physical conditions that someone or something exists ina pleasant working/learning environmentAn unhappy home environment can affect a child's behavior.They have created an environment in which productivity should flourish.the political environmenttests carried out in a controlled environment

2the environment[singular]the natural world in which people, animals, and plants livemeasures to protect the environmentpollution of the environmentdamage to the environment

3[countable](computing)the complete structure within which a user, computer, or program operatesa user-friendly desktop development environmentThesaurusenvironmentsettingsurroundingsbackgroundThese are all words for the type of place in which someone or something exists or is situated.environment the conditions in a place that affect the behavior and development of someone or something:An unhappy home environment can affect children's behavior.a pleasant working environmentsetting a place or situation of a particular type, in which something happens or exists:The island provided an exotic setting for the concert.surroundings everything that is around or near someone or something:The cabins blend in perfectly with their surroundings.background the things or area behind or around the main objects or people that are in a place or picture:The mountains in the background were capped with snow.Patternsin (a/an) .. environment/setting/surroundings (a/an) new/unfamiliar environment/setting/surroundings somebody/something's immediate environment/surroundings (a) dramatic setting/background